Half a century after the Raggiana bird-of-paradise was officially first hoisted on black and red, Papua New Guinea remains fiercely proud of its independence.

PNG will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its arrival as the Independent State of Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, with an air of festivity expected to flow through its capital Port Moresby as visiting dignitaries and world leaders assemble to pay their respects.

Community groups in Australia have been holding smaller events over the weekend to bring together family and friends in celebration, among them a gathering of the Papua New Guinea Australia Association and community members at Melbourne's Yarraville Gardens.

President Peter Bakua says the celebrations mean a lot to him personally as well as to his family and the broader dias

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